Story and Photography by Tom Corley/tcestudios@netzero.netPERRIS, CA, AUG. 12, 2017

“We’ve gotta have colored water next time to make this spectacular!” – Announcer Chris Ackerman.

The driver of the water truck at Perris Raceway made a seemingly normal pass around the track, letting the water flow; airborne dust was gone, and there was no trace of colored water appearing. Rain or water, air, and sun rays at a certain degree might explain the phenomenon of the rainbow pictured above. However magical or, even greater, a heaven-sent promise… this did happen! Would there be gold on either side of this rainbow? For those who reigned in the Pro main, there certainly was indeed.

After successfully winning the Pro main in the July event in Perris, Bakersfield’s Clayton Williams made the long trek down from Northern California. His fleet of Hondas, one of them new, were ready to do battle. Could he do it again? Also returning was Nick Armstrong, who won the Pro main in June, and André Ochs, who captured it in May. The competition was so great and evenly matched.

Speaking of being both great and evenly matched, Travis Petton IV and Grant Holmes were in the house. These two are such fine examples of 12-year-olds who compete against each other in flat track and are the best of friends as well.

Booze Fighters Motorcycle Club riders Ken Shilling and Shawn Chamlee put on a paint-scraper of a show. Kevin Jordan made others follow the leader. And a little guy named Drake Connor is just getting started in flat track, and he’s going to be a hot shot with a hot shoe, for certain.

This rockin’ presentation is best viewed on a full-screen computer. Enjoy…

At the riders’ meeting, Drake Conner (95) is listening to every word – like everyone else should.

Time for the riders’ meeting, and it’s not just for the riders but the parents, too. It was stressed that parents must make sure their kid gets in the right class; if one is a novice, they must race in the Novice class. Now looking at all of this is a young

Drake Connor (95) loves to flat-track. On this night, he bested a class of five riders for the top award in the 50cc Two-Stroke Beginner class.

Clayton Williams and his fleet of Hondas.

“I love the new bike [2018] and it’s just like the 2017 we have, with minor changes,” said Clayton Williams, who hails from Bakersfield, California, and who had a couple of other adventures in store, including a trip to Disneyland and an invitation to a church – which he rode his bike into. “The church thing was for a kids’ rally called ‘The Great Race’ and they had me use my riding gear representing ‘The Army of God.’ It was pretty cool, and I had a great time at it. I’m proud of it, and it was awesome!”

Clayton Williams (95) takes his Honda through turn one – but would he be able to repeat his Pro main-event win?

“Make America Shred Again” is what it says on Jake Mitchell’s hat. This is the bike on which he does some shredding on the Perris flat track. Okay, let’s see him shred in the next picture…

Jake Mitchell (3) did some shredding on this bike, as he was entered in three classes.

On the line is Colin Petton (46, right), who is getting some last-moment support from his father, Travis Petton.

Alongside of Colin Petton (46) is Brayden Collie (737).

This is about as close as two riders can get on the track: Booze Fighters Motorcycle Club aces Ken Shilling (26B) and Shawn Chamlee (3B).

Shawn Chamlee (3B) and Ken Shilling (26B) in the Frames Only Open class.

The Framer class is getting more popular. On this day, Fontana Radiator’s Jeff Johnson was the victor. Joe Steffen was runner-up and Shawn Chamlee came in third.

“My race didn’t go so well,” Ken Shilling confided. “I found out my frame broke, so I had to ride Shawn’s bike, and it was running bad, with carburetor problems.”

Both of these guys jamming through this turn are both top Pro riders: André Ochs (46) is going up against Kayl Kolkman (98).

“I was feeling good all day but felt a whole lot better when we put the new tires on for the main,” André Ochs reported. “I ran a close race with little Travis Petton [IV] in the Unclassified race. Always a blast riding with him!”

Pro heat racing, with André Ochs (46) leading someone who has a highly regarded name in the world of flat-track racing – Ajay Hateley (68Y).

“In the Pro main,” Ochs said later, “I started from the back row and worked my way into fourth, where I was battling Colt Foster pretty heavily. We got together and both went down. That was pretty unfortunate, but I got back up and finished the race. I’m kind of bummed I lost my points lead – but there are six more rounds where I can make it back up!”

Coming out of turn two as the sun is starting to set are Robert “Barbeque Bob” Stettler (57) and L.J. Gronek (12), who had one of the most striking outfits – a patriotic red, white and blue.

Turn-one action in race 11, with L.J. Gronek (12) taking the inside and Chris Osborn (12A) right over his shoulder. Shawn Chamlee took first in this Over 35 Vet Amateur contest, with Gronek being the runner-up.

A green streak through this turn and matching the greenery in the background is Noah Bush (17). André Ochs was the winner of this Open Unclassified contest.

In Pro heat racing, sizing up each other’s riding style before the big main event are Nick Armstrong (60) and Colt Foster (84E), who is trying to edge in from the outside.

Colorful racing, with riders and their colorful outfits: Clayton Williams (95) is on the inside in turn one, with Colt Foster (84E) trying to slide past him.

“I was feeling very fast all night on the new bike,” recounted Colt Foster. “I rode well in my heat. I got a decent start in the Pro main, which put me in third early in the race. I made a mistake and caught a hole going into turn one, which allowed Ochs to make a pass. Two laps later, I lined up an aggressive pass. Our line crossed and we both went down. Fun weekend.”

An interesting start in race 14, with all riders being a wheel’s distance behind the next. Against the wall and getting the jump on the rest was Kevin Jordan (137), who topped the Vet Over 50 Expert class. Dan Kane (110) was entered in the Super Senior Over 60 Expert class.

Kevin Jordan (137) gets into the clear.

Kevin Jordan (137), now racing under the lights, rarely takes a spill (though we caught him in the July race going down after turn one when he went over some marbles).

Going around turn one are Grant Holmes (7X) and Dalton Collie (91) in the Open Unclassified contest, which André Ochs won, over Travis Petton IV.

When asked what it’s like racing against Travis Petton IV, Grant Holmes replied: “It’s great competing against Travis, and this has always been one of the things I enjoy most about flat-track racing. I am a very competitive person, so I like knowing that I’ll always have stiff competition. Travis has become one of my best friends and is now a Thousand Oaks Powersports and Yamaha Blu Cru teammate.”

Okay, let’s find a shot of Grant Holmes and Travis Petton IV together. Should be no problem…

Now under the lights, and it is officially a night race, we see Travis Petton IV (1) and Grant Holmes (7X) taking turn one.

This time we asked Travis what it is like racing against Grant, and he replied: “Racing with Grant Holmes is amazing, as we are almost the exact same riders, so at times it can be very hard to pass each other. We ride the same line, so it’s whoever gets the holeshot. Tonight, I won the 250cc Youth race, got second in the Unclassified and also second in the Open Expert.”

The strobe light sure lit up the pretty eyes of Jaycee Jones, who was out to take the Powder Puff win – and that she did!

“I wasn’t sure if there was going to be any girls racing,” Jaycee Jones reported, “so I didn’t sign up, but turns out there was, so I would like to thank the Earwoods Racing for paying my entry fee, and I felt good in that race. In the Amateur race, I felt distracted for the upcoming race the next weekend, so I didn’t ride my best, but I still had a bunch of fun. My sponsors would be Rosa Plates, G&G Racing, Foster Brothers Racing, and Douglas Motorcycles.”

Tom Baugh (37T) had a successful night…

“What an awesome night of racing!” declared Tom Baugh. “Despite the heat, the boys came out to play, which made for some close racing – hey, rubbing is racin’! I was able to get a first and second in my heat races, which set the pace for the mains. The 50 [Senior Vet Over 50 Novice] class went real smooth, passing for the lead on the first lap and taking it to the checkers. But the Super 60 Senior [Super Senior Over 60 Novice/Amateur] class is a fast class, and I closed in on the leader about lap two and kept the pressure on. I made the pass in turn four on the last lap and [won it] by a wheel. Wow! Good racing, and can’t wait for the next one.”

Now it was time for the main event of the evening – the Pro main! Announcer Chris Ackerman presents the line-up of very talented riders. Who would take home the top money for the night…?

Clayton Williams (95) was the winner of the Pro main in July. Could he do it again?

Kayl Kolkman (98) is good with suspension and he is great on the track. He was one rider in the line-up who hadn’t won yet this year. Could he take the checkered flag on this night?

Norco, California’s Nick Armstrong (60) is a man in all black, though he does wear a red helmet. June was his month, as he took home the gold in the Pro main. Could he repeat his winning performance?

And the big winner of the Pro main was Ventura, California’s Kayl Kolkman, who grabbed the checkered flag from starter Rudy Gil and took a parade lap.

“It was a fun night!” Kolkman exclaimed. “I always enjoy riding at the Perris short track. My bike felt good right off the bat, and the track was really smooth. I was able to get the holeshot in the main but checked to see who was behind me, and Armstrong was right there the whole main. I just made sure to hit my marks and put down consistent laps.”

You sure did put down consistent laps, Kayl!

Come on out to Perris Raceway for the next event on September 9 to see who the next winner will be!

Now it was time to present some awards….

Racing in three classes on the evening, Alyssa Flores (who has a great smile!) took home a third-place award with Nick Gil’s picture on it in the 250cc Youth Open contest.

Time for a piggy-back ride, as Rocco Landers, the 85-100cc Novice Two-Stroke winner, lets little Diesel hold his plaque, which has an image of Clayton Williams on it.

Tom Baugh shows off two plaques with Clayton Williams on them, as he tallied first place in both the Senior Vet Over 50 Novice and Super Senior Over 60 Novice/Amateur contests.

“I would really like to thank the crew at Oceanside Cycle for all that they do for me,” said Tom Baugh, “[and] Jim Wood at Southland Racing for the awesome suspension. Thanks, guys at T.B. Construction. See ya at the next round for some more throttle therapy!”

There’s nothing better than winning a bag full of goodies. Travis Petton IV (left) digs into that bag, along with his little brother Colin Petton, who won it for taking last place in his class. That’s right: Last-place “winners” made out like bandits, courtesy of Lucas Oil!

How meaningful it is to win a plaque with your own image emblazoned on it! Kevin Jordan received exactly that, with his number-137 bike on the award to the left. The award on the right is an image of Clayton Williams. On the night, Kevin won the Over 35 Expert and Vet Over 50 Expert classes. His father, Bill, posed with him here. Kevin said his dad taught him a lesson about life: “Do the best you can – always.”